Moistening device.



PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905. J. SPEIR.

MOISTENING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 7,1905.

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r enric lVlOlSTlENIlNG DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed February 7,1905. Faerie] No. 244,646.

To all 1.0710171 7125 may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs SPEIR, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Bondi, l/Vestclifi'e Mount, Harrogate, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Moistening Devices, of which the following is a specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to moistening devices for use in moistening the gummed portions of envelops preparatory to scaling the same,

for use in moistening stamps, and for other and similar purposes; and the object thereof is to provide an improved device of this class which is simple in construction and operation and which may be conveniently kept or retained on a desk, table, or other article of furniture without danger of wetting such article of furniture or papers or documents placed thereon.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which Figure lis a side view of my improved moistening device; Fig. 2, a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

In the practice of my invention .1 provide a compressible bulb a, composed of rubber or similar material and which operates as the base of the moistening device and also as a handle therefor, and said compressible bulb is provided with a tubular neck portion a I also provide a neck-plug 7), having a small longitudinal central bore 6 and the end 6 of which is adapted to be inserted into the neck (1/ of the bulb (a and to closely [it said neck and the other end 7) of which projects from said neck and is slightly reduced in size and provided in the form of construction shown with a reduced nozzle 6. I also preferably provide a sleeve 0, which closely fits the reduced portion 1)" of the neck-plug Z) and which projects beyond the end of the nozzle 6 and is tapered and provided with a small port or passage 0, and said sleeve may be secured to the neck-plug Z) in any desired manner, or it may be composed of elastic material, the elasticity of which will hold it on said neck-plug under ordinary conditions.

Mounted on the sleeve 0 and projecting beyond and inclosing the same is a brush member cl, composed in the form of construction shown of an inner part of cotton, wool, or similar material (Z and an outer fabric covering cl", .and said brush member (Z is flattened at its outer end, and in the inner end thereof is a socket fl", into which the sleeve 0 is inserted.

Around the neck-plug 7), centrally thereof, is a flange e, and between the flange e and the neck portion a of the bulb a is placed a washer f, having radial arms f and fingersf which are bent downwardly longitudinally of the neck portion a of the bulb a and so as to inclose said neck and the top portion of the bulb (1/ adjacent thereto and so as to form a guard for said bulb and to prevent too great a compression thereof in the operation of the device.

The bottom of the bulb a in the form of construction shown is made flat in order that the device, if desired, may be set upright on a desk, table, or other support; but this form of said bulb is not absolutely necessary, and said bulb may be made of any desired shape in cross-section. The radial arms f prevent the brush member (Z from striking on or resting on a table, desk, or other article of furniture when the device is placed on its side thereon, and said arms thus serve to protect any papers or other articles from being moistened by the brush member (Z when the device is laid on its side.

It will be understood, of course, that in practice the bulb a is filled or partially filled with water, and in order to moisten the flap of an envelop or moisten any other article slight pressure is applied to said bulb and the water therein is forced through the plug Z) into the brush member (Z, and the said brush member is applied to the surface to be moistened in the usual manner.

This device is simple in construction and operation and comparatively inexpensive, and changes in and modifications of the construction as shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A moistening device, comprising a compressible bulb having a tubular neck, a plug provided with a longitudinal bore and one end of which is inserted into said neck, and a brush member mounted on the outer end of said plug and adapted to receive water passing therethrough, said nlug being also provided at the end of said neck with a collar having radiallyprojecting members and fingers which are bent downwardly so as to inclose the neck and a part of the body of the bulb, substantially as shown and described.

2. A moistening device, comprising a compressible bulb having a neck, a brush member connected with said neck and adapted to receive Water passed therethrough, and a collar connected with the end of the neck and having radially-projecting fingers which are bent l l g 1 so as to inclose the neck and a part of the body of the bulb, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 23d day of January, 1905.

JAMES SPEIR. lVitnesses:

CHAS. GILLIARD, 7 Row. WM. TA'PSON. 

